Category: traditions

  • Celebration of Holi – A Unique and Vibrant Festival of Colors

    Holi or Holika, is a spring festival celebrated at the onset of the spring season, on the full moon day (Purnima) in the month of Phalguna. It is also the first day of the Hindu calendar (samvat) and a day of great joy and gaiety in the cities of Vrindavan and Mathura. Holi means the…

  • Best Gita Explanation of the Hinduism Caste System

    Lord Krishna speaks to Arjuna as he clarifies the origin and purpose of the caste system in sanaatana dharma (Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 4, Shloka 13). cāturvarṇyaṃ mayā sṛṣṭaṃ guṇakarmavibhāgaśaḥ . tasya kartāramapi māṃ viddhyakartāramavyayam .. BG 4\-13.. चातुर्वर्णयं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः ।  तस्य कर्तारमपि मां विद्ध्यर्कतारमव्ययम् ।। ४\-१३ Hindu society’s four-fold order The four-fold order was created by Me according…

  • Chaitra Navaratri – Spring Festival of the Goddess

    Chaitra Navaratri or the nine (nava-) nights (-ratri) of Durga, are celebrated in the first 9 days of the bright half of the month of Chaitra (starting from the day after Amavasya). According to the Indian lunar calendar, this usually in late March or early April. This period of nine days heralds the onset of…

  • Spiritual Significance of Holi

    Holi Dahan – Burning of Desires Holi heralds the end of winter and the onset of spring. It is also pointed out as an instance of the conquest of base instincts of man and Holi is a celebration of this conquest. The Holi fire or Holika Dahan connotes this event in Hindu mythology of the…

  • Holi, Holika Dahan and Holi Milan

    Holi, Holika Dahan, Holi Milan Holi or Holika, is a spring festival celebrated at the approach of the spring season, during the 3 or 4 days preceding the full moon day in the month of Phalguna. Holi is celebrated by throwing colors and colored powder in the air. Colorful Rangoli patterns are painted at doorways…

  • Vasant Panchami – Saraswati Puja

    Vasant Panchami (also known as Basant Panchami) is a festival in honor of Goddess Saraswati, the hindu Goddess of education, learning and the fine arts (music, writing, painting, etc.). The festival is celebrated on the fifth (panch) day after the new moon (amavasaya) in the month of Magha according to the Hindu calendar (usually occurs…